Act 4, Scene 1

[Petruchio’s country house. Enter Grumio, Petruchio’s rascally servant, who’s been sent ahead to prepare the house for the arrival of Petruchio and his new wife. The actor chosen to play Grumio is noticeably short and thin.]

Grumio

Performance

Grumio, Lines 1-9

Fie, fie on all tired jades, on all mad masters, and all

foul ways! Was ever man so beaten? Was ever man so

rayed? Was ever man so weary? I am sent before to make

a fire, and they are coming after to warm them. Now, were

not I a little pot and soon hot, my very lips might freeze

Grumio

Curse all worn-out horses, all crazy masters, all dirty roads! Has anyone ever been as beaten-up as I am? So defiled? So weary? I was sent ahead to make a fire, and Katherina and Petruchio will come along later to warm up. Now, if I weren’t so small and easy to heat up, my lips would freeze to my teeth, my tongue to the roof of my mouth, and my heart in my belly before I found a fire to thaw me. But as I make this fire, I’ll warm myself up. In this weather, a bigger man than I am would freeze. Hey, Curtis!

[Enter Curtis]

Curtis

Who calls me so coldly?

Grumio

A piece of ice. If you doubt me, believe me when I tell you that you could slide down from my shoulder to my heel, with nothing but a running start on my head and neck. Help me with the fire, good Curtis.

Curtis

Are my master and his wife coming, Grumio?

Grumio

Yes, Curtis, yes. So help with the fire. Don’t put any water on it.

to my teeth, my tongue to the roof of my mouth, my heart

in my belly, ere I should come by a fire to thaw me. But

I, with blowing the fire, shall warm myself, for considering

Proverb

“a little pot and soon hot” and “blowing the fire”

[Click to see note.]

Proverb

“a little pot and soon hot” and “blowing the fire”

Two common proverbs are suggested:

1) “A small pot boils quickly.”

2) “Let them that be cold blow at the coal.”

the weather, a taller man than I will take cold. Holla, ho, Curtis!

[Enter Curtis, another of Petruchio’s servants]

Curtis

Who is that calls so coldly?

Double Meaning

“Who is that calls so coldly?”

[Click to see note.]

Double Meaning

“Who is that calls so coldly?”

1) Who is it that’s so cold and calling out?

2) Who is it that calls out so disagreeably?

Grumio

A piece of ice. If thou doubt it, thou mayst slide from

my shoulder to my heel with no greater a run but my

head and my neck. A fire, good Curtis.

Curtis

Is my master and his wife coming, Grumio?

Grumio

O, ay, Curtis, ay; and therefore — Fire, fire! Cast on

no water.

Cultural Allusion

“Fire, fire, cast on no water”

[Click to see note.]

Cultural Allusion

“Fire, fire, cast on no water”

Grumio is rephrasing the lyrics from a popular song, “Scotland’s burning … Fire, fire! Cast on water.”

Curtis

Is she so hot a shrew as she's reported?

Grumio

She was, good Curtis, before this frost. But, thou

knowest, winter tames man, woman and beast; for it hath

Curtis

Is she a hot-headed shrew, like they say?

Grumio

She was, good Curtis, before it got so cold. But you know, winter tames man, woman, and beast. It’s tamed my old master, my new mistress, and myself, Curtis.

Curtis

Get away, you three-inch-tall fool. I’m not a beast.

Grumio

Oh, I’m just three inches? Well, your cuckold’s horn is a foot long, and I’m at least as long as that. Just make the fire, or I’ll complain to our mistress. She’s close at hand, so you’ll soon feel her hand. It’ll be cold comfort to you if you’re slow to complete this hot task.

Curtis

So, good Grumio, how goes the world?

Grumio

It’s a cold world, Curtis, for everyone but you. So make the fire, and do your duty. My master and mistress are almost frozen to death.

The actual proverb goes, “Winter and wedlock tame both man and beast.” Grumio pointedly omits wedlock as a taming agent form his version. Perhaps he doubts that marriage has in any way tamed Katherina.

Curtis

Away, you three-inch fool! I am no beast.

Discussion

“Away, you three-inch fool! I am no beast.”

[Click to see note.]

Discussion

“Away, you three-inch fool! I am no beast.”

Curtis objects to the fact that when Grumio rephrased the proverb in the above line (see note at line 21), he seemed to equate the two of them with beasts. He insults Grumio for his short, scrawny stature, calling him a “three-inch fool.” “Three-inch nail” was a common expression and is implied here, as we’ll see in Grumio’s response.

Grumio

Am I but three inches? Why, thy horn is a foot,

and so long am I at the least. But wilt thou make a fire,

Language

“you three-inch ... thy horn is a foot, and so long am I”

[Click to see note.]

Language

“you three-inch ... thy horn is a foot, and so long am I”

Grumio treats Curtis’ put-down comparing him to a three-inch nail as an insult to his manhood. He retaliates by implying that his penis, which is at least a foot long, has made Curtis grow horns. This “horn” suggests that Curtis is a cuckold — a man whose wife has been unfaithful. Cuckolds were often depicted with horns growing from the forehead.

or shall I complain on thee to our mistress, whose hand —

she being now “at hand” — thou shalt soon feel, to thy

cold comfort, for being slow in thy hot office?

Curtis

I prithee, good Grumio, tell me how goes the world?

Grumio

A cold world, Curtis, in every office but thine,

and therefore fire. Do thy duty, and have thy duty, for

my master and mistress are almost frozen to death.

Double Meaning

“Do thy duty, and have thy duty”

[Click to see note.]

Double Meaning

“Do thy duty, and have thy duty”

The proverb is “Do your duty, and have your due.” Grumio’s substitution of “have thy duty” has two meanings:

Have your due — your pay for doing your duty.

Have the output of doing your duty, a fire.

Curtis

There's fire ready; and therefore, good Grumio, the news.

Grumio

Why, 'Jack, boy, ho boy!' and as much news as wilt thou.

Cultural Allusion

“Jack, boy, ho boy!”

[Click to see note.]

Cultural Allusion

“Jack, boy, ho boy!”

Grumio is quoting from a nursery rhyme:

Jack, boy, ho boy, news!

The cat is in the well,

Let us ring now for her knell,

Ding, dong, bell.

Curtis

Come, you are so full of cony-catching.

Double Meaning

“you are so full of cony-catching”

[Click to see note.]

Double Meaning

“you are so full of cony-catching”

Trickery. A cony is a rabbit (not the smartest of animals), which is caught by tricking it into a trap.

“Catchy” phrases, such as the proverb and nursery rhyme Grumio has just recited.

Grumio

Well that’s why we need fire; what I’ve caught is a bad cold. Where’s the cook? Is dinner ready, is the house put in order, the floor covered, the cobwebs swept away? Are the servants in their new work clothes and white stockings? Is everyone dressed in their wedding clothes? Are the tablecloths laid out? Is everything in order?

Curtis

All ready. So please tell me the news.

Grumio

First, you must know, my horse is tired and my master and mistress have had a falling out.

Curtis

What do you mean?

Grumio

They’ve fallen out of their saddles and into the dirt. But that’s a story for another time.

Curtis

Let’s hear it, good Grumio.

Grumio

Okay, come close.

Curtis

Like this?

Grumio

[Cuffing him] Like that.

Curtis

I said let’s hear it, not feel it.

Grumio

But since you’ve felt it, it’s a sensible story. That slap was just to knock on your ear like a door, to get you to listen. Now I’ll begin. First, we were coming down a muddy hill, my master riding behind my mistress —

without, the carpets laid, and everything in order?

Double Meaning

“Be the Jacks fair within, the Jills fair without”

[Click to see note.]

Double Meaning

“Be the Jacks fair within, the Jills fair without”

Jack and Jill are conventional names for little boys and girls (as in “Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water”).

Jacks are large beverage containers; they are “fair within” when they’re full of alcohol. Jills are small metal containers; they are “fair without”’ when they’re polished and shiny.

Curtis

All ready, and therefore, I pray thee, news.

Grumio

First, know my horse is tired; my master and mistress fallen out.

Curtis

How?

Grumio

Out of their saddles, into the dirt; and thereby hangs a tale.

Pun

“thereby hangs a tale”

[Click to see note.]

Pun

“thereby hangs a tale”

By Shakespeare’s time, this expression with a pun on tale/tail was already common. Given in response to a question, it means that there’s a long tale attached to the explanation, like a long tail attached to a horse. There’s a bit of extra wordplay here since Grumio’s tale involves horses.

Curtis

Let's ha't, good Grumio.

Grumio

Lend thine ear.

Curtis

Here.

Grumio

[Striking him] There.

Curtis

This is to feel a tale, not to hear a tale!

Grumio

And therefore 'tis called a sensible tale; and this

cuff was but to knock at your ear and beseech listening.

Pun

“therefore ‘tis called a sensible tale”

[Click to see note.]

Pun

“therefore ‘tis called a sensible tale”

Curtis’ ear sensed (felt) the blow.

The tale makes sense.

Now I begin. Imprimis, we came down a foul hill, my

master riding behind my mistress —

Curtis

Both of one horse?

Grumio

What's that to thee?

Curtis

Curtis

Both on the same horse?

Grumio

What’s it to you?

Curtis

Well, it’s a horse.

Grumio

Fine then, you tell the story. If you hadn’t interrupted me, you would have heard how her horse fell and she fell under it. And you’d have heard how we were in such a swampy place that she got covered in mud; and how he left her there with the horse on top of her, and beat me up because her horse tripped; and how she waded through the mud to get him off me. And you would have heard how he swore, how she prayed — she, who had never prayed before! — how I shouted, how the horses ran away, how her reins snapped and I lost mine. You would have heard many other things worthy of reciting, which now will be lost forever, and you’ll go to your grave in ignorance.

Curtis

Based on that story, he’s more of a shrew than she is.

Why, a horse.

Grumio

Performance

Grumio, Lines 57-68

Tell thou the tale! But hadst thou not crossed

me, thou shouldst have heard how her horse fell and

she under her horse; thou shouldst have heard in how

miry a place, how she was bemoiled, how he left her

with the horse upon her, how he beat me because her

horse stumbled, how she waded through the dirt to

pluck him off me, how he swore, how she prayed that

never prayed before, how I cried, how the horses ran

away, how her bridle was burst, how I lost my crupper,

with many things of worthy memory, which now

shall die in oblivion, and thou return unexperienced to

thy grave.

Curtis

By this reckoning, he is more shrew than she.

Grumio

Ay, and that, thou and the proudest of you all, shall

find when he comes home. But what talk I of this? Call

forth Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Philip, Walter, Sugarsop

and the rest. Let their heads be slickly combed, their

blue coats brushed, and their garters of an indifferent

Grumio

Yes, you’ll all find that out when he gets home. But why are we talking about this? Bring in Nathaniel, Joseph, Nicholas, Philip, Walter, Sugarsop, and the others. Make sure they comb their hair, brush their blue coats, and that their socks match. Tell them to curtsy with their left legs forward — and not to touch a tail-hair on my master’s horse until they’ve kissed his hands. Are they ready?

Curtis

Grumio

Curtis

Grumio

Curtis

Grumio

Everyone but you, it seems, if you need to face her husband to face her!

Curtis

I bring them out so that they can pay her respects.

[Enter four or five Servingmen]

Grumio

Credit? She’s not trying to take out a loan.

Nathaniel

Welcome home, Grumio!

knit. Let them curtsy with their left legs, and not presume

to touch a hair of my master's horse-tail till they kiss their

hands. Are they all ready?

Cultural Context

“curtsy with their left legs”

[Click to see note.]

Cultural Context

“curtsy with their left legs”

The proper way to curtsy is by putting the right leg back and bending the left leg. To do it the other way round is seen as disrespectful.

Curtis

They are.

Grumio

Call them forth.

Curtis

[Calling offstage]

Do you hear, ho? You must meet my master to

countenance my mistress.

Grumio

Why? She hath a face of her own.

Curtis

Who knows not that?

Grumio

Thou, it seems, that calls for company to

countenance her.

Wordplay

“You must ... countenance my mistress”

[Click to see note.]

Wordplay

“You must ... countenance my mistress”

Countenance in these lines can have two meanings:

pay respect to our mistress (Katherina).

give a face (countenance) to her, as in, put a face to her name.

Curtis

I call them forth to credit her.

Grumio

Why? She comes to borrow nothing of them.

[Enter four or five Servants]

Nathaniel

Welcome home, Grumio.

Philip

How now, Grumio.

Joseph

What, Grumio.

Nicholas

Fellow Grumio.

Nathaniel

Philip

How’s it going, Grumio?

Joseph

What’s up, Grumio?

Nicholas

Hey, Grumio!

Nathaniel

How are you, old friend?

Grumio

Welcome, you — how’s it going, you — what’s up, you — and hey, you! So much for greetings. Now, my lively friends, is everything ready? Are all things neat?

Nathaniel

Everything is ready. When will our master get here?

Grumio

Very soon, any minute now. So don’t — Oh jeez, shut up! I can hear him.

[Enter Petruchio and Katherina]

Petruchio

Where are my servants? Nobody’s at the door to help me get down or to take my horse. Where is Nathaniel, or Gregory, or Philip?

All Servingmen

Here, here, and here, sir.

Petruchio

Here, sir, here sir, here, sir, here, sir! You blockheads! Filthy fools! Can I get no service? No respect? No sense of duty? And where’s the idiot I sent ahead of me?

Grumio

Here, sir, as idiotic as ever.

How now, old lad.

Grumio

Welcome, you! How now, you! What, you!

Fellow, you! And thus much for greeting. Now, my

spruce companions, is all ready, and all things neat?

Nathaniel

All things is ready. How near is our master?

Grumio

E'en at hand, alighted by this; and therefore be

not — Cock's passion, silence! I hear my master.

[Enter Petruchio and Katherina]

Petruchio

Where be these knaves? What, no man at door

To hold my stirrup, nor to take my horse?

Where is Nathaniel, Gregory, Philip?

All Servants

Here, here, sir; here, sir.

Petruchio

‘Here, sir! Here, sir! Here, sir! Here, sir!’

You logger-headed and unpolished grooms!

What, no attendance? No regard? No duty?

Where is the foolish knave I sent before?

Grumio

Here, sir, as foolish as I was before.

Petruchio

You peasant swain! You whoreson, malt-horse drudge!

Cultural Context

“malt-horse”

[Click to see note.]

Cultural Context

“malt-horse”

A malt-horse was the epitome of stupidity because it spent all day walking in a circle, turning the mill stone that ground the malt, grain, used to make ale.

Did I not bid thee meet me in the park,

And bring along these rascal knaves with thee?

Grumio

Nathaniel's coat, sir, was not fully made,

And Gabriel's pumps were all unpinked i’th’ heel;

There was no link to color Peter's hat,

Cultural Context

“link to color Peter’s hat”

[Click to see note.]

Cultural Context

“link to color Peter’s hat”

A link was a torch that consisted of a short length of fibre — a link — that had been dipped into black pitch made from tree resin. The pitch was also used to blacken hats.

And Walter's dagger was not come from sheathing

There were none fine but Adam, Ralph, and Gregory;

Petruchio

You country bumpkin! You ass, you son of a whore! Didn’t I tell you to meet me in the park, and to bring these fools with you?

Grumio

Well, sir, Nathaniel’s coat wasn’t fixed yet, and the heels on Gabriel’s shoes hadn’t been decorated yet. Peter’s hat wasn’t black, and Walter’s dagger had no sheath. The only ones who were ready were Adam, Ralph and Gregory. The rest were all ragged like beggars. But here they are; they’ve come to meet you as they are.

The rest were ragged, old, and beggarly.

Yet, as they are, here are they come to meet you.

Petruchio

Go, rascals, go, and fetch my supper in.

[Exeunt Servants]

[Singing]Where is the life that late I led?

Where are those — Sit down, Kate, and welcome.

[Humming]Soud, soud, soud, soud!

Cultural Allusion

[Click to see note.]

Cultural Allusion

These are the opening lines of a ballad about a man losing his freedom when he gets married.

[Re-enter Servants with supper]

Petruchio

Go on, morons, get me some food.

[Exeunt Servants]

[Singing] Where’s the life I used to lead? Where are those — Welcome, Kate. Sit down. —[Humming] Hmm hmm hmm hmm…

[Enter Servants with supper]

Well it’s about time! Oh, it’s all right, Kate. Take off my boots, you fools! Hurry up, idiots! [Singing] It was the friar wearing grey, as he kept walking on his way — Get out, moron! You’re hurting my foot. Take that! [He kicks the servant] And do better next time. Oh, Kate, don’t worry. Can I have some water over here?

[Enter a servant with water]

Where’s my dog, Troilus? Hey you, go get my cousin Ferdinand. Oh, Kate, you’ve got to meet him. Where are my slippers? And can I get some water over here? Come wash your hands, Kate, make yourself at home. You bastard idiot! You’re just going to drop the water like that?

Katherina

Oh, come on, he didn’t mean to!

Why, when, I say! — Nay, good sweet Kate, be merry —

Off with my boots, you rogues! You villains, when!

[Singing]It was the friar of orders grey,

As he forth walked on his way —

Cultural Allusion

“It was the friar of orders grey, as he forth walked on his way”

[Click to see note.]

Cultural Allusion

“It was the friar of orders grey, as he forth walked on his way”

These are the opening lines to another ballad — a bawdy one about a priest seducing a nun.

Out, you rogue! You pluck my foot awry.

[He kicks the Servant]

Take that, and mend the plucking of the other.

[Strikes him]

Be merry, Kate. Some water, here. What, ho!

[Enter servant with water]

Where's my spaniel, Troilus? Sirrah, get you hence

And bid my cousin Ferdinand come hither —

One, Kate, that you must kiss, and be acquainted with —

Where are my slippers? Shall I have some water? —

Come, Kate, and wash, and welcome heartily —

You whoreson villain! Will you let it fall?

[Strikes him]

Katherina

Patience, I pray you, 'twas a fault unwilling.

Petruchio

A whoreson beetle-headed, flap-eared knave! —

Come, Kate, sit down; I know you have a stomach.

Will you give thanks, sweet Kate, or else shall I? —

What's this? Mutton?

First Servant

Petruchio

He’s a thick-headed bastard, a donkey-eared moron! Come sit, Kate — you must be starving. Would you like to say grace, sweet Kate? Or should I? What’s this, mutton?

Servingman

Yes.

Petruchio

Who brought it?

Peter

I did.

Petruchio

It’s burnt. And so is the rest of the meat. What scoundrels did this? Where’s that no-good cook? How dare you, rascals, bring this from the kitchen and serve it to me? Take it away! Plates, cups, and all! You disobedient blockheads, you disrespectful servants! Oh, you want to complain? I’ll show you…

Nathaniel

Katherina

Please, husband, don’t get so upset. The meat would have been fine, if you had just accepted it.

Petruchio

I’m telling you, Kate, it was burned to a crisp. I’m not allowed to eat burned meat. Its heat and dryness causes anger. If the meat is so overcooked, I’d rather neither of us ate — since we’re both naturally angry people. Be patient, I’ll fix it tomorrow. For tonight, we’ll fast together; we can bond over it. Come on, I’ll bring you to your bedroom.

[Exeunt Kate and Petruchio. Enter Servants]

Nathaniel

Peter, have you ever seen anything like this?

Peter

He’s beating her at her own game.

[Enter Curtis]

Grumio

Where did he go?

Curtis

He’s in her bedroom, lecturing her on self-control. He’s ranting, and swearing, and berating her. Poor girl, she doesn’t know where to look or what to say. She just sits there, as if she’s just woken up from a dream. Shoo! He’s coming.

Petruchio is comparing Katherina’s training to that of a hunting falcon. The lure is a cloth bird resembling the birds you want the falcon to catch, inside of which you’ve placed some raw meat. You keep the falcon hungry to train it to stoop — swoop down on any bird resembling the lure.

Petruchio

So I’ve cleverly begun my reign, which will hopefully end in success. My falcon of a wife is extremely hungry. I won’t let her eat her fill until I’ve trained her. That way, she’ll stay focused on my bait. I have one more way to train her, to make her come when I call: I’ll keep her awake, like we do with disobedient hawks. She hasn’t eaten or slept today, and she won’t tomorrow. Just like I did with the meat, I’ll pretend there’s something wrong with the bed. I’ll throw the pillow, the frame, the blankets and sheets all over the place. And all this I’ll do for her own good. Then she’ll have to stay awake all night. And if she starts nodding off, I’ll shout and make a big fuss, to keep her awake with the noise. That’s how you kill your wife with kindness. With this plan, I’ll rein in her surly, stubborn attitude. If anyone knows a better way to tame a shrew, he should speak up now.

Another way I have to man my haggard,

To make her come and know her keeper's call,

That is to watch her, as we watch these kites

That bate and beat, and will not be obedient.

Double Meaning

“Another way I have to man my haggard”

[Click to see note.]

Double Meaning

“Another way I have to man my haggard,”

A haggard is a wild falcon being trained. These falcons were always females because they make better hunters. A female falcon is trained to come when called, and to rest peacefully on the trainer’s arm. To “man my haggard” has a double meaning:

Petruchio will get his wild falcon accustomed to being around men.

Petruchio will rule over his wild female, Kate.

Petruchio has a technique to rule his haggard. He’ll keep Kate awake, just as he would keep a nervous falcon awake until it tires out and calms down.